Who is a Non-Degree Student?
Non-degree students at UW-Stout encompass various individuals and situations, including:
- Working professionals seeking career-boosting certificates.
- Community members interested in auditing classes for personal fulfillment.
- High school students looking to advance through college-level courses.
- Individuals seeking to benefit from our unique course offerings without pursuing a full degree.
Explore our extensive course catalog to discover a class that aligns with your interest.
To explore only summer or winter term classes, please visit our Winterm & Summer Registration website.
Choose Your Path and Explore Application Processes
High School Student
High school students can accelerate their education at UW-Stout through two programs:
Early College Credit Program (ECCP): For Wisconsin public or private high school students, this program allows you to earn both high school and college credit. Seek approval from your school district for desired coursework. Costs are typically covered by your school's district/state.
Dual Credit Program: An affordable way for high school students to jumpstart their college career by earning high school credit and college credit.
High School Special Program: Homeschooled students and students from public or private high schools can enroll in this program. Costs for courses are the responsibility of the student/family.
Application Process for ECCP or High School Special Program Student
To apply for either program you must:
- Have the approval of your parents and your high school and submit the UW System ECCP Participation Form (this form also serves as the High School Special Agreement form).
- Complete the UW System Application.
- Rank in the top 50% of your high school class OR have an ACT composite score of 22 or higher (SAT equivalent 1030 or higher) OR have a 2.75 GPA or higher.
- Be on track to meet UW-Stout's general admission requirements in regard to course completion.
- Submit your transcripts.
- You do not need to indicate a major or provide an ACT/SAT score (unless it is to meet eligibility criteria above).
- College-Level Courses: Please note that these programs offer genuine college courses, earning you actual college credits. Your grades in these courses will be recorded on an official college transcript, which becomes a permanent record. Before enrolling, ensure that you are prepared to take on the challenging workload of a college course.
- Financial Aid Ineligibility: High school students are generally not eligible for financial aid when participating in these programs. Keep this in mind while planning your educational journey.
- Course Levels: As a high school student, you can typically enroll in freshman- or sophomore-level courses, denoted by course numbers in the "100" or "200" range. Be sure to review the course listings accordingly.
- Registration Consideration: Please be aware that registration for ECCP and Special Student courses occurs after continuing university students, new first-year students, and new transfer students have had the opportunity to register. While we strive to accommodate all requests, securing a spot in a desired course is not guaranteed.
- English and Math Course Placement: Eligibility for English and math courses will depend on your UW System Placement Exam results. Your exam scores will determine your appropriate course level for these subjects.
Deadlines
There is no hard-set application deadline for non-degree students. Applications will be accepted through December for our spring semester, or early August for our fall semester. We do encourage you to submit your application by the following recommended deadlines so that everything else can happen in a timely manner.
| Entry Term | Recommended Deadline | Final Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | March 1 | Early August |
| Spring | November 1 | Late December |
| Summer / Winterm | Learn more >> |
Curious what are the most popular courses for high school students? Here's a short list, but there are many more to choose from:
| APSS 100: Intro to Applied Social Science (1cr) | ANTH 220: Cultural Anthropology (3cr) |
| ART 100: Drawing I (4cr) *Instructor permission required | ART 213: Ceramics I (3cr) |
| COMST 100 Fundamentals of Speech (3cr) | ECON 210: Principles of Macroeconomics (3cr) |
| ENGL 101: Composition I (3cr) | FN 102: Nutrition for Healthy Living (2cr) |
| FN 207: Medical Terminology (1cr) | HIST 210: Modern World (3cr) |
| MATH 153: Calculus I (4cr) | MATH 275: Linear Algebra (3cr) |
| PHIL 201: Intro to Philosophy (3cr) | POLS 210: American Government (3cr) |
| PSYC 110: Intro to Psychology (3cr) | SPAN 101: Elementary Spanish I (4cr) |
| STAT 130: Elementary Statistics (3cr) | WGS 210: Intro to Women and Gender Studies (3cr) |
Undergraduate Special Student Application Process
Good news! As someone interested in taking select undergraduate courses, you have the easiest application process of anyone.
- Complete the UW System Application.
- You do not need to declare a major, pay the application fee, submit transcripts, or provide an ACT/SAT score.
Current High School Students: Please see High School Special/ECCP Application Process in section above.
- Financial Aid: Special students are not eligible for financial aid.
- English and Math Courses: Your registration for English and math courses will be determined based on your UW System Placement Exam results.
- Transition to Degree-Seeking: Once you have completed 12 credits as a special student, you can apply to become a full degree-seeking student. To do so, you will need to follow the standard application process for either New First Year or Transfer Students, depending on your category.
- Credit Accumulation: As a special student, you can accumulate up to a maximum of 29 credits.
Deadlines
There is no hard-set application deadline for non-degree students. Applications will be accepted through December for our spring semester, or early August for our fall semester. We do encourage you to submit your application by the following recommended deadlines so that everything else can happen in a timely manner.
| Entry Term | Recommended Deadline | Final Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | March 1 | Early August |
| Spring | November 1 | Late December |
| Summer / Winterm | Learn more >> |
Graduate Special Student Application Process
Within our 22 outstanding advanced degree programs at UW-Stout, we have fascinating individual courses that are perfect for professional development. Or maybe you'd like to dip your toes into a Masters-level education to see if it's the right fit for you. Whatever the case may be, explore the graduate-level options we have for you.
Application Requirements and Process for Graduate Special Student
- Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
- Complete the UW System Application
or
If you already know the course(s) you'd like to take, complete our Credit Outreach Registration form.
- Financial Aid: Typically, financial aid is not available to non-degree graduate students.
- Certification Options: If you're pursuing certification options offered by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), please submit additional application materials.
- Certificates: For those pursuing a Certificate program, an additional application may be required.
- Course Enrollment: As a special student, you have the flexibility to enroll in any 500 or 600 level course, as well as most 700 level courses. However, certain 700 level courses (e.g., research, practicum, internship) and all 800 level courses are restricted to degree-seeking students. Prerequisites may also apply.
- Credit Limits: There is no limit on the total number of credits you can take as a non-degree seeking student. However, the number of credits that can be applied toward a degree program is limited to one-third of the minimum graduation credit requirement. Individual programs may have lower limits approved through the official curriculum process.
- Transition to Degree-seeking: While taking individual coursework, you have the option to apply and become a full degree-seeking student. In this case, you'll need to complete the standard Graduate Student application process. Similarly, students in good standing in a degree program can request a change to non-degree student status.
- Admission and Programs: Completion of courses as a non-degree student does not guarantee admission into a specific program. If you decide to enter a graduate program, you must meet the specific admission criteria set by that program.
- Advisement: The director of the Graduate School will provide necessary guidance to non-degree seeking students pursuing their coursework outside of a specific program.
- Dropped from Program: If you have been dropped from a graduate program, you are not eligible to pursue coursework as a non-degree student.
Deadlines
There is no hard-set application deadline for non-degree students. Applications will be accepted through December for our spring semester, or early August for our fall semester. We do encourage you to submit your application by the following recommended deadlines so that everything else can happen in a timely manner.
| Entry Term | Recommended Deadline | Final Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | March 1 | Early August |
| Spring | November 1 | Late December |
| Summer / Winterm | Learn more >> |
Contact Information
Explore, inquire, connect! Please refer to the following departments with your questions.
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